Submitted by Grainne Kennedy on Tue, 2017-07-25 16:28
There have been some changes in the Environment and Energy team recently and we’d like to take this opportunity to welcome one of our new team members, Colin Nye. Colin is providing maternity leave cover for the role of Energy Coordinator.
1. Name: Colin Nye
2. Position: Energy Coordinator
3. What does this position entail?
As the Energy Coordinator, I am responsible for maintaining the SystemsLink database, compiling requests for reports the department receives, ensuring invoices are processed and management of the Utility Billing Clerks
4. What is your (education/qualifications) background and how did you get here?
I studied a dual honours degree in Applied Environmental Science and Biology at Keele University, don’t worry, nobody knows where it is! My dissertation aimed to use MET office atmospheric data to accurately predict the output of wind turbines in a region, the resulting formula accounted for temperature, elevation and wind speed; and was successful in predicting wind turbine output, without the need for an anemometry survey.
I’ve always been interested in green technologies, energy efficiency and ultimately carbon reduction; I enjoyed my previous job, but wanted to make a bigger difference, the University allows me to contribute towards reducing carbon emissions on a larger scale!
5. What were you doing before joining the Environment and Energy section?
Before joining the team, I was the Energy Management Engineer for Norbord Europe Ltd. Based in South Molton, Devon, my role was wide ranging, but focussed primarily on cost reductions from efficient energy use. I was involved in anything from complex process alterations leading to increases in product throughput (less energy per unit of production), COSHH LEV interpretation, borehole drilling, impellor/extraction redesign, sub-metering network installation, to non-domestic RHI installations, including a 4.5MW biomass boiler which displaced £800k/pa of natural gas consumption.
6. What is your proudest professional achievement?
I’ve been in the real working world for close to 4 years, and the highlight for me was being involved in the biomass boiler project; I’d have to say the sub-metering network install was a close second; the benefits of having reliable data are numerous.
7. What are you most looking forward to getting your teeth into in the coming year?
I’d really like to get stuck in to the Feed-in Tariffs (FiT), the Feed-in Tariff is a UK Government scheme designed to encourage uptake of a range of small-scale renewable and low-carbon electricity generation technologies. The University has a number of renewable energy installations and is looking to expand further. This is an area that deserves more attention than it has had historically, and I’d like to make it my own.
8. What gets you out of bed (and into work) in the morning?
My three alarms, one of which I have to put on the other side of the room! On a serious note, I want to make a positive change to the world; by doing all I can to address climate change. Right now, that means reducing carbon emissions of the University, in the future, who knows!
9. What is your environment and energy pet hate?
Poor quality data. Lack of or no faith in consumption data is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to addressing overall consumption. Coming from an industrial background, the process of proving that a project, which often necessitates investment, is a nailed on certainty for payback. This requires clear, accurate data. The same is true at the University, accurate data is key!
10. What is your favourite green gadget?
More a technology than a gadget, but it has to be wind turbines, and not just the regular ones, I’m talking gearless turbines; direct drive systems, which have fewer moving parts and are more reliable, produce less noise and are therefore, potentially, more efficient!
A developing technology which I’m REALLY interested in is bladeless wind turbines; it takes the accepted principles and completely flips them around, with possibly ground breaking efficiency and energy density.
13. What do you think is the biggest environmental challenge?
Getting all the world leaders to agree on a strategy, one that is realistic and based on irrefutable climatic data, is the single biggest hurdle. Without clear policies, industry won’t make changes and that is where the big carbon reductions are. The power mixture of countries needs to be pushed towards a sensible balance of renewable technologies, without definitive policies companies aren’t likely to switch en masse.
14. Tell us one little known fact about yourself?
I’ve built 10 computers from discarded parts and donated them to charities
15. Who is your inspirational figure (real or fictional)?
Don’t look at me like I’m crazy, but Maximus Decimus, Russel Crowe’s character from Gladiator. Whenever I watch the film, it reminds me that even the smallest detail is important and that through determination, anything is possible.
16. Do you have any hobbies?
I absolutely love technology, taking things apart, understanding how they work and then failing at putting them back together! I’m finding computer building quite interesting at the moment, making something useable out of discarded parts is great for the environment, and a lot of fun!
I also love exploring new places, being originally from Devon, I’ve been spoilt with coastal and moorland walks!
17. First impressions of Cambridge?
It’s very much what I expected; people are friendly, knowledgeable and proactive. I haven’t seen many of the University buildings yet, but I can’t wait to get on my bike and head to as many of the sites as I can.